Comminution device



ug- 5, 1963 1 c. MCDERMOTT COMMINUTION DEVICE Filed March 22, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l lle INV ENTOR LYLE C. MCDERMOTT M @MQW ATTORNEYS Aug. 6, 1963 c. MCDERMOTT COMMINUTION DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1961 INVENTOR LYLE 6'. MLDERMOTT ATTORNEYS Aug- 6, 1963 1 c. MGDERMOTT 3,100,087

COMMINUTION DEVICE Filed March 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ll I ,8 F/G. 8 I

@mf u 30j i 54 MTW/AJ INVENTOR LYLE 0. MtDE'RMOTT ATTORNEYS ilnited States Farces 3,100,087 CMMINUTEN DEVICE Lyle C. McDermott, Boise, idaho, assigner to H. G. Peckham, Boise, idaho Fiied Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,535 Claims. (Cl. 241 79) This invention relates to 1a comminution device. More specically, this invention relates to a device adapted to receive large chunks of ore and to comminute them into particles suitable for further processing.

It is an object of this invention to provide a comminution device incorporating an adjustable screening means whereby the size of the discharge particles may be easily regulated and preestablished -by simple adjustment.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan View :of `a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of the means to regulate the distance between convolutions of the screening spring, with the lcover removed to display the structure;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is `a fragmentary side `elevational view of a modification in which the distance between ladjacent convolutions of the spring is adjustable by :threaded axial means.

Briefly, my invention is a comminution device comprising a stationary substantially inverted cup-shaped hood and a cutter disc disposed proximately under and rotating on an axis coaxial with said cup-shaped hood, said cutter disc having upwardly extending cutter elements inside the hood, said hood having an inlet opening for receiving relatively large ore chunks into a comminuting chamber defined by said hood and said disc, said hood having in its sidewall at least one axially extending slot. A spiral spring is mounted along said slot and cover means having an open lo-wer end is secured to said side- Wall over said spring. The invention also comprises means to vary the distance between adjacent convolutions of the spring to adjust the size of discharge particles from the comminution device.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a comminution device .embodying the invention is illustrated in FIG. l and generally designated 10. It comprises a substantially inverted cup-shaped hood member 12 and a cutter disc 14 with peripheral fan -blades 15 disposed proximately under and mounted to rotate on an axis coaxial with cup-shaped hood 12. The top wall of the hood is provided with an inlet opening or chute 16 for receiving relatively large ore chunks. Exit means for the pulverized ore comprise (FIG. 4) axially extending slots 18 in the sidewall of the hood.

As shown in FIG. 4 the disc 14 is mounted on a shaft 17 rotated by power means not shown. Extending upwardly from the upper surface of the disc are `a plurality of cutter members evenly spaced as is shown in FIG. 3. Each cutter member comprises a plurality of coplanar square-shaped stock pieces 2t? spaced above the disc 14 and supported by weldments 22. The plane in which ice the side by side pieces are disposed slopes downwardly toward the center of the disc (FIG. 4) and slightly ydownwardly as following ends are approached. The stock pieces have fiat aligned front faces as is shown in FIG. 4 and either break up the ore as they hit it or send the ore flying into the wall of the hood to be broken thereagainst. A small annular space 24 is disposed between the lower end of the hood and the disc 14 so that there will be no interference with the rotating disc by the stationary hood.

Details of the slot lmeans through which the pulverized ore discharges from the hood is shown :in FIG. 5. As shown, each slot 18 tapers to be Wider on the Ioutside than on the inside of the hood to conform with a spiral spring 26 disposed in the slot. A cover member 28 bolted to the hood as shown holds the spring in position. The cover member terminates upward-ly in a cap 29, and the lower end has a central opening 28a for discharge of the comminuted particles into an annular receiving chamber defined by Wall 30 disposed about the lower end of the hood and disc. From the annular receiving chamber the material discharges through opening 32 (FIG. 3) propelled partly by the exhaust from fan lblades 15.

In order to have control of the size of the discharge particles means are provided to vary the distance between adjacent convolutions of the spiral screening spring 26. One form of such means is shown in FIG. 6 to comprise a pair of comb-like plates 34 mounted for movement toward and away from said spring. As shown in FIG. 6, the plates Iare provided each with a pair of mounting slots 36 which receive the cover mounting bolts intermediate the cover and the hood, and the inner edge of the plates are each provided 'with ia plurality of wedgeshaped teeth 38 adapted to interleave the convolutions of the spring 26. Means to drive the plate toward the center of the spring comprise brackets 40 nearer to the hood and having tapped openings each receiving a threaded adjusting bolt 42. By turning the nut 44 `on the bolts the bolts are turned, screwing ythe plate toward or away from the spring (FIG. 6). As they `are brought toward the center of the spring the Wedge-shaped teeth urge the convolutions into a more open disposition. This of course allowed coarser particles to pass therebetween and to discharge.

An alternate form of means regulating the distance between adjacent :convolutions is shown in FIG. 8. 'Ihe cover 2S secured to the hood by bolts is closed :at its upper end by a circular closing plate 46. Centrally in the closing plate 46 is a tapped aperture which receives a threaded bolt 48. The lower end of the bolt 48 engages a cap Sii which rests on the upper end of the spring 26. Thus as the bolt 48 is turned downward it applies compression against spring 26 to decrease the distance between convolutions. It will be understood, of course, that in order to discharge from the hood, the comminuted particles of ore must pass between adjacent convolutions of the spring. By decreasing the distance between adjacent convolutions the discharge particles from the comminution device are made finer.

For convenience, the hood and the annular receiving chamber defined by Wall 30 are made unitary and are mounted by a pair of downwardly extending brackets 52 mounted to the frame 54 by bolts 56 extending through openings in upwardly projecting clips 58. Thus, to open up the device, it is merely necessary to remove one of the bolts 56 and to hinge the hood and other portions of the yassembly upward about the other bolts to expose the upper portion of the disc 14 and cutters for replacement or cleaning or repair.

While this invention has been shown in but one form, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim:

1. A comminution device comprising a stationary substantially inverted cup-shaped hood and a cutterv disc disposedvproximately under and'rotating on -an axis coaxial with said cup-shaped hood, said cutter disc having upwardly extending-cutter elements projecting inside said hood, said hood having an inlet opening for receiving relatively large ore chunks into a comminuting chamber defined by said hood and said disc, said hood having a receiving ch-amber at the bottom portion thereof, said hood having in its sidewall at least one slot extending in a direction generally parallel to said axis, fa spiral spring mounted along saidslot, cover means secured to said sidewall and enclosing said spring, said cover means having an open lower end in communication with said receiving chamber, and means to vary the distance between adjacent convolutions of said spring, whereby comminuted material from said chamber `entering said slotV is screened by said spring and discharged to said receiving chamber.

2. A comminution device comprising a stationary substantially inverted :cup-shaped 'hood and a cutter disc disposed proximately under and rotating on an axis coaxial with said cup-shaped hood, said cutter disc having npwardly extending cutter elements projecting inside said hood, said hood having an inlet opening for receiving relatively large o-re chunks into :a comminuting chamber defined by Isaid hood and said disc, said hood having an annular receiving chamber at the bottom portion thereof, said ihood having in its sidewall at least one slot extending in a direction parallel to said axis, a spiral spring mounted along Said slot, cover means secured to said sidewall and enclosing said spring, said cover means having an opening in its lower end concentric with the oonvolutions of said spring and in communication ywith said annular receiving chamber, Vand means to vary the distance between adjacent convolutions of said spring, whereby comminuted material from said chamber entering said slot is screened by said spring and discharged axially through said spring to said :annular receiving chamber.

3. A ccmminution device as described in claim 2 whereinvsaid means to vary the distance :comprises a plate adjustably mounted on said hood `and having a plurality of wedge-shaped teeth along one side thereof, said teeth adapted to -be driven laterally of said spring between adjacent convolutions thereof.

4. A comminution device as described in claim 2 wherein said means to vary the distance comprise threaded means .adapted to apply compression against the opposite ends of the spring.

5. A comminution device asV described in claim 2 wherein said means to vary the distance comprises a wedge-shaped element mounted on said hood and adapted to be driven laterally of said spring between adjacent convolutions thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 892,8525 Goss u July 7, 1908 2,886,254 Rohlanger May 12, 1959 4FOREIGN PATENTS 281,059 Great Britain Dec. l, 1927 

1. A COMMINUTION DEVICE COMPRISING A STATIONARY SUBSTANTIALLY INVERTED CUP-SHAPED HOOD AND A CUTTER DISC DISPOSED PROXIMATELY UNDER AND ROTATING ON AN AXIS COAXIAL WITH SAID CUP-SHAPED HOOD, SAID CUTTER DISC HAVING UPWARDLY EXTENDING CUTTER ELEMENTS PROJECTING INSIDE SAID HOOD, SAID HOOD HAVING AN INLET OPENING FOR RECEIVING RELATIVELY LARGE ORE CHUNKS INTO A COMMINUTING CHAMBER DEFINED BY SAID HOOD AND SAID DISC, SAID HOOD HAVING A RECEIVING CHAMBER AT THE BOTTOM PORTION THEREOF, SAID HOOD HAVING IN ITS SIDEWALL AT LEAST ONE SLOT EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS, A SPIRAL SPRING MOUNTED ALONG SAID SLOT, COVER MEANS SECURED TO SAID SIDEWALL AND ENCLOSING SAID SPRING, SAID COVER MEANS HAVING AN OPEN LOWER END IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID RECEIVING CHAMBER, AND MEANS TO VARY THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ADJACENT CONVOLUTIONS OF SAID SPRING, WHEREBY COMMINUTED MATERIAL FROM SAID CHAMBER ENTERING SAID SLOT IS SCREENED BY SAID SPRING AND DISCHARGED TO SAID RECEIVING CHAMBER. 